Conveyor hook ornamental fence and decor system

ABSTRACT

The invention is new, useful processes, easily employed in a system of layout and manufacture of welded conveyer hook ornamental fence panel elements, existing wood fence panel ornamental décor elements, and other architectural and structural ornamentation. The system&#39;s results are highly ornamental elements of open work, applicable to many uses. The processes are simple, easy to use, efficient, quick, and inexpensive methods of manufacture, producing highly ornate elements cheaply.

THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF DRAWINGS

Included within this application are 23 figured drawings, ranging from basic ornamental elements, to full fence panels. Application of ornamental elements to existing fence panels and other architectural applications are shown, as well as the apparatus of manufacture. These shall serve to illustrate the following description

DESCRIPTION

The invention consists of arrangements of conveyor hooks and their derivatives, in such a manner to produce welded modular ornamental elements, incorporated into rigid frames for fence panels (FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,), individual modules for existing wood panel fencing décor elements (FIGS. 6, and 6 a), and other architectural and structural elements (FIG. 6 b).

A conveyor hook for purpose of the invention's description is, but not limited to, a wire hook, typically used as a parts carrying apparatus for paint finishing conveyor lines. Generally these hooks are an eye hook with an u-hook at the other end (FIG. 7). The eye of the hook being larger than the U end, but not limited to, a ratio of 3 to 1. the eye of the hook is, but not limited to, a round, to tear drop loop, with the end of the eye bend pointing to the same side of the hook's shaft as the direction of the u bend (FIG. 7). The end of the eye loop can be touching the shaft (closed), or spaced the thickness of the shaft, or more (open, FIG. 7). If a line was drawn, extended from the shaft through the eye, the eye would be bisected, lying on either side of the line. The diameter of the wire hook is principally, but not limited to, 5/16ths of an inch. Lengths of the hooks are principally, but not limited to 9 in., 14 in., and 21 in. The material used is principally, but not limited to, straightened steel coil wire formed to shape. Other materials, such as aluminum, stainless steel, copper, and other shapes, or cross sections of wire, such as twisted hexagon, twisted square, diamond, plain hexagonal, and square, may be employed, but would generally be optional, by request.

The derivatives of the conveyor hook are subtle changes, and adjustments to the eye, u-bend ends, and shafts of the hook. The lengths are nominally the same as the originals. The following are exemplary, but not limited to, 1. The end of the eye loop no longer points to the shaft, but has a return bend from the former end of the eye loop, to a length able to connect to the shaft of the next hook in the sequence, resembling a mini shepherd's hook with an u-bend at the other end (FIG. 8). The end of the eye loop, and the shepherd's hook direction, is reversed, pointing to the opposite side of the shaft as the u bend direction (FIG. 8 a). The u-bend end changes, a bend over to the shaft (FIG. 9 b). 3. a small eye (FIG. 9 c), with the same but not limited to proportions of 3 to 1, the eye would be bisected by a line from the shaft.

The shaft variations are, but not limited to, a v slot pointing to the side of the shaft of the u bend direction on the shortest, two on the intermediate size, three on the upper size (FIG. 10), wavy, bent at various tangents along the shaft These shaft variations are generally most useful only near the eye's half of the shaft. Not all of these variations are shown, but are self descriptive.

These derivatives are combined, but not limited to, having three lengths of shepherd and u bend, three lengths of shepherd and bent over u, three lengths of shepherd and small eye (FIG. 11), three lengths of open tear drop and u, three lengths open tear drop and bent over u, three lengths open tear drop and small eye (FIG. 12), three lengths of round and u, three lengths of round and bent u. three lengths of round and small eye. (not shown self explanatory), also three lengths of round and tear drop closed, with u bend, bent over u, and small eye. In the case of shaft variations, there would be a matching series in each of the above combinations. The variations described above are within, but not limited to, 3 to 1 proportions, and lengths, so as to be interchangeable, and add up, but not limited to, 3 lengths of 30 styles of components, not including shaft variables

Now that the basic parts have been described, it's on to putting them to good use. Since this is welded fence and décor, the layout and welding station apparatus is the foundation of the manufacturing process (FIG. 14). The table consists of simple design and function. Simply put, it is a 2 in. steel angle, 8 ft.×3 ft rectangle, 4 legs with casters, and a lower shelf, topped of with 3 ft.×8 ft.×1¼ in. thick section of bar grating (cat walk) with the cross bars down (up side down). The cross bar side of the grate is not as flat on all axis as the bar side. The parallel features of the bars aid in layout, and the cross rods below aid in vertical square. The thin surface area of bars on end has only 1/9 the surface area of a normal flat topped table thus staying cleaner, cooler, minimal flatness distortion, keeping work product flat. The bar grating also serves as a very clamp friendly surface should the need arise; small panels, frames and the like.

Now that there is a table, on with production. Because of the proportionality of the ends of the conveyor hook, that of, but not limited to, 3 to 1, they lend themselves to quick layout, producing ornamental element modules, by assembling hooks, but not limited to, 1. Touch at two or more places for welding purposes. 2. Assembling the hooks with the smaller ends at each apex of the u bend, closing the u bend of the previous hook, or inside of the previous, on the same side of the shaft as the direction of the u bend, and the eye touches (FIG. 15). This process carries out to a circle with sharp angles at the u bend (FIG. 16). Element modules from this process are segments of this circle, and appear fan like (FIGS. 17, 18). 3. Assembling hooks side by side, same bend direction (FIG. 19, lower portion). This process carries out to a circle with slight angles at the u bend. Element modules from this process are segments of this circle, and appear festoon like (FIG. 19 lower portion). 4. Mirror image, bend direction meeting. This process combined in pairs carries to a circle with slight angles at the u bend (FIG. 20), and element modules appear festoon like (FIG. 20), but in a different way than (FIG. 19) above. 5. Alternating lengths, and styles, whether singularly or sequenced in any process above. 6. Parallel arrangements, such as eyes at top and bottom, u bends in the center (FIG. 21). Eyes in the center, u bends top and bottom (FIG. 22). Serially, by length, smaller to larger at the bottom, and larger to smaller at the top, eyes diagonal (FIG. 23), The above in series the length of the panel, or as separators for other element combinations.

Once the chosen elements are selected and laid out, the joining doth commence. Welding is done from, but not limited to; the center of the overall layout, welding all small ends in each module or series, then joining the eyes at their cooperating points. Any distortion from initial welding is more easily adjusted at the eye end of the layout. When all layout welding is complete the welds are hammer tested for integrity.

Then attach to the chosen frame at the perimeters of the layout, in the case of rigid fence, the frame consists of, but is not limited to, ¾ in×1½ in.×16 gage steel rectangular tube, with the ¾ in. face as perimeter, adding depth to the panel, or the 1½ in. face as perimeter for a streamline, and thin appearance. In either case, the short members of the frame are pre drilled, as well as posts of the same tube and 4 in. square plate for mounting on properly placed footings.

In the case of décor elements, because of the small sharp angles at the joined points, they are easily mounted on existing wooden fence panel at opposing points of the module, with a few ¾ in. stainless steel screws on each element.

Once welded, the panels, and, or the décor, are next painted in a three step process, but not limited to, 1. Pretreatment, consisting of soap cleaning, deoxidizing, bonderizing, sealing the metal. 2. e-coat, electro deposition of paint, in a submerged bath, for under coating. 3. Powder paint coating, electro attracted, powder paint coating, oven baked at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, for 20 minutes. Then packed for transport, etc.

The above described invention encompasses new uses of conveyor hooks, and a new media for ornamental décor elements. The processes are easy, simple to use, enabling quick layout, producing novel ornamentation not found in the many places that have been researched. The Internet, ornamental fence manufacturers, greenhouses, nurseries, home improvement centers, patents, and published patent applications. The field of search was in the classifications of, 256/21, 22, 32, 33, 73, 52/311, 633, 660, 663, 664, 140/93r, and 29. Still through all this none seemed to compare.

Having described the apparatus, components, methods of manufacture, and articles produced, I seek protection by letters of patent for the following claims. 

1. The apparatus, component parts, processes of manufacture, and articles from the processes described, and before set forth, to produce ornamental fence panels, and ornamental décor elements, for existing wooden fence panels.
 2. The use of conveyor hooks, and their derivatives as before set forth, as sole media for rigid frame ornamental fence panels, and existing fence décor elements.
 3. The use of the invention for any architectural, and structural ornamentation. 